Protective means for banks



Sept. 26, 1933. T. RUSSELL 1,927,953

PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR BANKS Filed May 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l '2'? E us 5522 Sept. 26, 1933. RUSSELL 1,927,953

PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR BANKS Filed May 8. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 26, 1933 2 1,927,953

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFEE 1,927,953 v PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR BANKS Teddy Russell, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application May 8, 1930. Serial No. 450,829 2 Claims. (c1. 268-2) The primary object of this invention is to pro- Figure 10 is an enlarged detail sectional view tect banks and like institutions against bandits on the line 10-10 of Figure 4. 7 and to trap and prevent their escape when at- Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional .view on the tempting a holdup or robbery. line 1111 of Figure 4, looking in the direction The invention provides a shield associated with of the arrows. 69 the tellers window and normally held out of the Figure 12 is an enlarged sectionaldetail on the way, and operable means for interposing the line 12-712 of Figure 4. 5 v shield between the teller and bandit in an emer- Figure .13 is a-detail view of a circuit closer;

gency to prevent the consummation of a robbery. Corresponding and like parts are referred to in The invention furthermore provides a barrier the following description and designated in the G5 at the usual entrance of the bank which is autoseveral views of the drawings by like reference matically closable when released to cut off escape characters.

of the bandits when apprehended, said barrier be- The numeral 1 designates the main entrance to ing of sectional formation to preclude blocking a banker like institution and 2 the tellers booth movement of the barrier and thereby prevent or cage having the usual barred or guarded win- 7 closing of the entrance. I dow 3. ,The numeral 4 designates partitions form- The invention embodies means for automatiingthe sides of the booth or cage '2. It is precally actuating the shield and barrier, in an emer-' ferred to form the, partitions 4 of bullet-proof gency, by pressing a button or similar device, glass so as not to obstruct the vision and yet prewhereby to bring them into operative position, as vent smashing of said partitions by a missile or 7 5 set forth more fully hereinafter. other object coming in contact therewith.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred em- A shield 5 is provided to extend across the winbodiment of the invention, it is to be understood dow 3 but which normally is held outof the way that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and below the window. The shield; 5 is usually and requirements, the design may be varied and of metal and operates in guides 6 disposed upon changes in the minor details of construction may opposite sides of the window 3 and securedto the beresorted to within the scope of the invention as inner side of the front enclosing the booth or cage claimed, without departing from the spirit 2. An expansible helical spring 7 normally tends thereof. to project'the'shield 5'upwardly across the win- 30 For a full understanding of the invention and dow 3. A red 8 attached to the shield 5 depends the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the therefrom and is notched adjacent its lower end following description andthe drawings hereto atto receive a latch 9 for holding the shield 5 in. tached, in which: lowered position against the action of the spring 7.

Figure l is a fragmentary sectional view of a The latch 9 is mounted in a bearing 10 and is -bank illustrative of an applied embodiment of spring actuated to'automatically engage the rod the invention. 8 when lowered. Alongitudinal shaft 11 ismount- Figure 2 is an elevational view of the sectional ed in the bearing 10 and has a trip 12 pivoted barrier associated with the entrance to the bank. thereto as shown most clearly in Figure '7 of the Figure 3 is an elevational view of the front pordrawings. The trip 12 extends across the'path tion of the tellers booth, showing the shield in of the latch 9 and, in consequence, rotation of the conjunction therewith, and the operating means shaft 11 in one direction moves the-latch 9 to reintimately associated with the shield. lease the rod 8, which permits the spring '7 to come Figure. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the into play and shoot the shield 5 across the winrestraining means for holding the sections of the dow 3. By having the trip 12 pivoted,- reverse barrier retracted. movement of the shaft 11 is provided for without Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional damaging any of the mechanism. An electric view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3. motor 13 is geared to the shaft 11 and is included Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional in a circuit which maybe closed from any one of "A view on the line 6-5 of Figure 3. anumber of determinate points. Figure 13 of the V W Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line drawings, illustrates apush button 14 within con- 7-7 of Figure 6. venient reach of the teller and which may be op- Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of one of erated in an emergency to close the circuit of the the drums and the clutch associated therewith. motor 13, whereby to rotate the shaft 11 and ef- Figure 9 is a detail sectional view of a portion fect release of the shield'5 which is thereupon of the barrier, on the line 99 of Figure 2. projected across the window 3.

The shield 5 is adapted to be retracted or returned to normal position to uncover the window 3, by means including cables 15, drums l6, loose on the shaft 11, and a clutch mechanism between each of the drums 16 and the shaft 11. This clutch mechanism includes a fixed clutch member 17 and a movable clutch member 18 which is splined to'the shaft 11, as indicated most clearly in Figure 8 of the drawings. A shipper lever 19 coacts with each of the cables and movable clutch members 18 to throw the drums it into or out of clutched engagement with the shaft 11. Each of the cables 15 is provided with fixed stops 1 20 and 21 disposed to engage opposite sides of an arm of the shipper lever 19. When the shield 5 is lowered or occupies a position to uncover the window 3 or other opening, the clutches are disengaged, as indicated most clearly in Figures 3 and 8 as indicated at 24 in Figure 2;

of the drawings. When the shield 5 is elevated or projected across the opening, the steps 21 engage the lever 19 and move the same to throw the clutches into engagement so that when the'shaft "11 is rotated in areverse direction, the drums 16 are likewise rotated to wind the cables 15 thereon and draw the shield 5 downward so as to uncover the window 3 or other opening. When the shield 5 is withdrawn, the stops 20 engage the shipper levers 19 and disengage the clutch members 18 from the clutch members 17, thereby releasing the drums 16. i

The entrance 1 is adapted to be closed by a door 22 which, preferably, is of sectional forination, as indicated most clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings. The longitudinal edges of the sections are connected by means of a'tongue groove joint, as indicated most clearly in Figure 9 of the drawings. A dog or catch 23 is pivoted to the inner end of a section and is adapted to engage a stop on the adjacent section with the result that a rearwardmovement of an upper section effects a corresponding movement of the adjacent section therebelow while, at the same time, admitting of the upper section moving for Ward to close the opening while the next'section therebelow may-be retarded'by an obstruction, In the event of, a log 24 or other obstruction being placed to prevent closing of the door or barrier, the section above the log 24 will close, whereas the section engaging the log will beretardedby contact therewith, as indicatedvmost clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings. Removal of the log 24 re-' leases the'obstructed sections and the same will then be moved to closed positionby the springs acting thereon. A spring 7a is provided for each of the sections of the door or barrier 22. a A rod 8a is also attached to each of the sections and is notched adjacent it's free end to engage a latch 2a, whereby the sections comprising the barrier are held retracted or in withdrawn position, as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The latch 1 9a consists of a bar and is mounted in a vertically disposed bearing 25 to move laterally to engage or disengage the rod 80,. A vertical shaft 26 mounted in the bearing 25 is geared at its lower end to the longitudinal shaft 11 and is provided adjacent its upper and lower ends with pivoted trips 12a whereby to engage the ends of the latch 9a and move it laterally to release the rods 8a and permit the sections comprising the barrier 22 to be projected across the opening forming the entrance 1. Duplicate drums 16 are loose upon the vertical shaft 26 and are adapted to be clutched thereto by members 17 and 18 identically as the like previously described members cooperate with the longitudinal shaft 11, the drums being connected with the closure 22 by a second set of cables 15 provided with stops for shifting the levers 19, as Will be understood on reference to Fig. 2.

Under normal conditions, the barriers or protectors 5 and '22 are withdrawn or retracted to expose the openings 1 and 3. It is understood that the springs 7 and 7a are compressed andheld in restraint by the rods 8', 8a and cooperating latches 9 and 9a. In the'event of a robbery being attempted, pressure upon the button 14 or like part, closes the circuit including the motor 13, whereupon the shafts 11 and 26 are rotated. During the initial rotation of these shafts, the

trips 12 and 12acarried thereby, eifect release of return the barriers or closures to normal position. I

the closures reach the limit of their return movement, the steps 29 on the cables 15 operate the levers 19 and release the, drums 16 so that in the next emergency a repetition of the operationjust described be eilected. A plate extends over the push button 14 to present alarge surface to be engaged by the teller or other person, thereby assuring operation of the push button in an emergency. This plate is pivoted and spring actuated button 14.

What is claimed is:

1. A protector operating mechanism including a latch, a motor driven shaft, a: trip pivoted on the shaft for acti iatingthe latch, a motor for operating'the shaft, a drum loose on the shaft, a clutch between the drum and the shaftfa cable for'connecting the protector with the drum, a shipper lever for throwing the movable clutch member into and out of engagement with the drum, and a stop on'the cable for operating the shipper lever to throw the drum into and" out of clutchedengagement with the shaft.

2. A protector operating mechanism including an arm extending from'the protector, a latcharranged to engage said arm and extending beyond the same, a motor driven shaft, and a trip pivoted to the shaft and extending across, the path of the latch whereby upon movement of the'shaftin one direction the latch will be released and upon movement of the shaft in the opposite direction the trip will yield and ride past the latch. 1 TEDDY RUSSELL. [Ls] to normally stand away fromthe 

